United Way of South Mississippi

United Way of South Mississippi, which serves hancock, harrison, pearl river and stone counties, awarded $535,569 in grants in fy 2021. Grants included multi-year community impact grants to twelve local nonprofit agencies carefully selected by a volunteer community investment team; emergency and emerging needs grants, which addressed community needs that arise from crises or time-sensitive opportunities with the potential for high impact; pass-through distributions; and funders' grants. Additional impact initiatives included the singlecare prescription drug savings card, which saved South mississippians $660,848 and the volunteer income tax assistance (vita) program, which returned $325,964 to the area through free tax preparation services. Donors were also free to designate contributions to any 501(c)(3) or 509(a) organization.

In fy 2021, United Way of South Mississippi provided, through volunteers and special projects, critical community services. Volunteers signed up for opportunities through the organization's director of volunteers and special projects and were fielded in the community through events like the annual day of action. Volunteers logged a total of 2,393 hours with a monetary impact of $68,296. Additionally, the organization worked collaboratively with the gulf coast hub for volunteers and nonprofits to provide other opportunities and resources for volunteers. Uwsm also directed a diaper drive and "fill the bus" school supply drive, which generated much-needed donations for community organizations, schools and children.

During fy 2021, United Way of South Mississippi worked to develop and implement long-term solutions to address school readiness and grade-level reading. According to the annie e. casey foundation 2020 kids count data book, 48% of 3 and 4 year- olds in Mississippi are not enrolled in a preschool program. In addition, the same study indicates that 68% of fourth graders are not at grade level proficiency in reading. Uwsm believes the community's most critical resources are children and families, and the organization invested in those resources through several education initiatives. Initiatives included dolly parton's imagination library, which distributed 13,055 free books to our area's children; United Way readers, which paired adult volunteers with children to provide reading practice; the little library program, which promoted neighborhood book exchanges through free, public bookcases; and prek4ward, which offered free preschool to 180 area children across nine classrooms. Additionally, uwsm funds the nourishing place's enhance after school tutoring program, which provided 328 area children with needed tutoring services.